Lawmakers in the GOP-controlled Ohio Senate would rather keep that money flowing. In fact, legislators there voted unanimously to expand the tax break to Broadway productions developing new shows.

That division between the Ohio House and Senate sets up a battle over the tax credit that must be resolved before the state's two-year budget is sent to Gov. Mike DeWine. Lawmakers must pass a balanced budget by June 30.

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How the motion picture tax credit works

Since 2009, Ohio has spent $109.2 million on tax breaks for 110 movies and other productions.

Here's how they work: anyone spending at least $300,000 in Ohio to make a film, documentary, miniseries, music video, trailer, interactive web series or other production can ask Ohio for a break on the income taxes paid to cast and crew.

Film crews unload equipment at the intersection of Main and Seventh streets, Monday, Jan. 14, 2019, in downtown Cincinnati for the production of the film "Dry Run." Most of the filming for the movie, which features Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway and Tim Robbins, will be shot indoors in several office buildings downtown.(Photo: Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer)

If approved by the Ohio Film Office, the production will receive up to 30 percent of its wages and other approved spending as a credit, which is turned into the Ohio treasurer to offset some taxes.

Each fiscal year, Ohio can dole out up to $40 million for these motion picture tax credits. The state can carry over extra money from previous years.

Nearly 30 movies received $27 million in tax breaks to shoot scenes in Southwest Ohio, according to applications submitted to the Ohio Film O. Robert Redford's "The Old Man and The Gun" received the largest credit in the area: nearly $3.2 million.